News on Food Trends from United Kingdom

Soil stuck on leeks and potatoes may have been the source of an E. coli outbreak in the UK earlier this year, according to the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

PepsiCo UK has now achieved Zero Waste to Landfill status at 11 of its major manufacturing sites, including Walkers in Leicester and Quaker Oats in Cupar. In 2008, PepsiCo UK revealed a number of commitments to grow sustainably and minimise its impact...

Top potato researchers from Britain and The Netherlands have joined the speaker panel at the World Potato Congress (WPC 2012) due to take place in Edinburgh, Scotland, May 27-30. Exploiting the potato genome and how new-found knowledge will ultimatel...

Irrigate with the right amount of water, at the right time, in the right place, growers were urged by Dr Jerry Knox at the well-attended Potato Council East of England day (September 1, Tuddenham, Bury St Edmunds). Improved water efficiency may not ne...

Two Potato companies - Taylor Food Group and QV Foods - have signed a five year deal with the James Hutton Institute's Mylnefield Research Service (MRS) subsidiary to continue a potato breeding programme that originally started in 2005. Taylor Food Gr...

Potato Council is introducing a wide range of potato related resources into secondary schools as part of the national curriculum after successfully piloting a new classroom project;‘Cook Your Own Potatoes’.  Following on from the increasingly popular ...

International seed breeders and exporters sharing the Potato Council stand enjoyed a very busy time at this year’s Potato Europe (Tournai, Belgium, September 7-8). “The record-breaking 2011 seed potato export season reflects our success in this secto...

The directors of a Bolton-based, fast food packaging company have been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after ignoring safety warnings for more than three years. First Packaging company directors Anthony Smith and Yvonne Barrett wer...

Walkers has commissioned a new ad about the life of a potato crisp, in an effort to highlight the "three simple things"that make its potato snacks.

McCain Foods (GB) has launched new Signatures Staycrisp Fries, pre-seasoned chips that remain crispy from fryer to plate. It’s latest ‘Cashing in on Chips’ report revealed consumers are after a natural, regular-shaped, golden, crispy and hot chip, wit...

Potato Week 2011 is kicking off next month (1-7 October) and is offering chefs and caterers the chance to take part in the event. Simon Bull, marketing manager for Potato Council, believes potatoes are a versatile product and are a great ingredient fo...

The rising cost of irrigation was one of the topics discussed at the East of England Potato Day in Suffolk last week. The cost of applying water to potato crops is rising fast and has doubled since 2005, according to Jerry Knox of Cranfield University...

About 1,200 McDonald's restaurants in the U.K. will this week begin displaying the calorie count of each food and drink item on their wall-mounted menu boards, as part of a government-led program to fight obesity and promote healthier eating, the chain...

Potato prices in the United Kingdom have dropped again, with available supplies exceeding demand due to the early harvest. The Potato Council's weekly average price fell by 12% in the week to 19 August, to £120.65/t - £50/t below the same time last y...

Matthew Smallwood has been appointed as SAC’s Senior Potato Consultant and will be based at SAC’s Perth Office. Matt will work closely with Dr Stuart Wale, who continues to work for SAC on a reduced-days basis. He will co-ordinate activity with the oth...

The Aunt Bessie’s brand is aiming to drive growth in the frozen potato category by expanding its range of frozen ‘home-style’ potatoes. The launches will bring new varieties and flavours to the category. Building on the success of Midweek Mini Roasti...

United Biscuits may be broken up as its private equity owners plan to revive attempts to sell the U.K. food manufacturer, The Sunday Times reports without citing sources. The move could see the group's biscuits business, including the McVitie's brand,...

A £1M water recycling plant in the South West has enabled potato packer and distributor Branston to reduce its use of mains water by 85%. As a result of the plant in Ilminster, Somerset, Branston is saving 41 cubic metres of mains water a day, as wast...